PRESENTATION BY ARCHBISHOP PIERO MARINI,
MASTER OF THE LITURGICAL CELEBRATIONSOF THE HOLY FATHER ON"RITES AND LEGISLATION OF THE VACANT SEE"

Tuesday 5 April 2005

The volume Sede Apostolica Vacante published by the Libreria Editrice
Vaticana was produced by the Office for the Liturgical Celebrations of the
Supreme Pontiff following the publication of the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani
Pontificis and the Ordo Rituum Conclavis1. The book refers
therefore first of all to the above-mentioned Ordo. However the material
considered examines everything connected with the Vacant See as established by
the Apostolic Constitution «Universi Dominici Gregis
on the vacancy of the Apostolic See and the election of the Roman Pontiff» (22
February 1996).

The volume is intended not only as an authoritative presentation of the Rites
established for the Funeral of the Roman Pontiff and for the Conclave but also
as a general introduction to the other events which characterise the period of
Vacant See.

The period of the Vacant See

The title Vacant Apostolic See refers not only to a period of time but
also to a series of events, rites and acts which take place during that period.
The expression ApostolicSee also clearly indicates that the
period and acts in question concern the Vacant See of the Bishop of Rome, namely
the successor of Saint Peter the Apostle.

The Apostolic See becomes vacant with the death of the Pope and ceases to be
vacant with the election of the new Pope. The Pope’s death is closely connected
with the Funeral Rites, whereas the election of the new Pope is connected with
the Rites of the Conclave and in the interval between the Funeral and the
Conclave it is a tradition for the Cardinals to hold General and Particular
Congregations 2 . The period of the Vacant See is therefore marked
by a succession of events: the death of the Roman Pontiff, the Congregations of
the Cardinals and the Conclave with the Election of the Roman Pontiff.

During the period of Vacant See, besides the College of Cardinals, certain other
persons assume special prominence: the Cardinal Camerlengo of Holy Roman Church,
the dean of the College of Cardinals, the Secretary of the College of Cardinals
and the Master of Papal Liturgical Celebrations. Their roles and the acts
carried out in this period are regulated by tradition, as codified by provisions
issued by the Roman Pontiff.

Various Roman Pontiffs have issued Norms to be observed during the Vacant See.
The custom was repeated frequently especially during the last century: as a
means of meeting the particular needs of the times, norms regarding the Vacant
See were issued by St Pius X, Pius XI, Pius XII and Blessed John XXIII.

Pope Paul VI, of venerable memory, with the Apostolic Constitution
Romano Pontifici eligendo
established the norms observed during the last two Vacant Sees: the first
following the death of Paul VI himself, from 6 to 26 August 1978; the second
following the death of John Paul I, from 28 September to 16 October of the same
year.

General norms on the Vacant See

The special attention given to succession in the Apostolic See of Rome is due to
the See’s singularity and importance. The Roman Pontiff, the successor of St
Peter the Apostle, is in fact Bishop of the Diocese of Rome and Shepherd of the
whole flock of the Lord.

John Paul II, following the example of his predecessors and taking into account
the changed situation of the Church and the general revision of Canon Law
undertaken after the Second Vatican Council, with his Apostolic Constitution Universi Dominici Gregis,
issued on 22 February 1996, established new regulations with regard to the
vacancy of the Apostolic See and the election of the Roman Pontiff.

These norms can be summarised briefly as follows.

The Body charged with the election of the Roman Pontiff is the College of
Cardinals of Holy Roman Church. «In them one finds expressed in a remarkable
synthesis the two aspects which characterise the figure and office of the Roman
Pontiff: Roman, because identified with the Bishop of the Church in Rome
and thus closely linked to the clergy of this City, represented by the Cardinals
of the presbyteral and diaconal titles of Rome, and to the Cardinal Bishops of
the suburbicarian Sees; Pontiff of the universal Church, because called
to represent visibly the unseen Shepherd who leads his whole flock to the
pastures of eternal life. The universality of the Church is clearly expressed in
the very composition of the College of Cardinals, whose members come from every
continent».3

The norm, established by Pope Paul VI, that Cardinals who celebrate their
eightieth birthday before the day on which the Apostolic See becomes vacant do
not take part in the election, is maintained.

The Conclave is held within Vatican City State in determined places: Domus
Sanctæ Marthæ where the Cardinal electors reside; chapels for liturgical
celebrations; the Sistine Chapel, where the election takes place. The Cardinal
electors and those called to co-operate in the orderly function of the election
itself are to reside in Vatican City State during the period of the election.
The Domus Sanctæ Marthæ, the Sistine Chapel and places for liturgical
celebrations are closed to unauthorised persons. In particular, provision is
made to ensure that no one approaches the Cardinal electors while they are being
transported from the Domus Sanctae Marthae to the Apostolic Vatican
Palace. (cf. nn. 41, 43).

The only form with which the electors may manifest their vote in the election of
the Roman Pontiff is by secret ballot (cf. n. 62). The norm of strict secrecy
regarding anything concerning the voting directly or indirectly during the
election is confirmed (cf. n. 47).

With regard to the general norms on the Vacant See established by Universi Dominici Gregis,
we cannot fail to make one observation. The traditional form of Conclave
followed for many centuries until the Conclave in which Pope John Paul II was
elected in 1978, has been altered. The Cardinal electors and those called to
co-operate with the function of the Conclave will no longer be locked (cum-clave,
hence Conclave), in one place where they lodge, proceed with the election and
remain until the election is over. With the new norms the Cardinal electors
occupy different places according to their activity: lodging in the Domus
Sanctæ Marthæ, liturgical celebrations in the Chapel of Santa Marta and
other chapels, the election in the Sistine Chapel; moreover, to move from place
to place they use a space not directly connected with the acts of the Conclave.
In fact the physical inviolability proper to the traditional Conclave has been
lifted.

The Rite of the Funeral and the Rites of the Conclave

Universi Dominici Gregis states in chapter 5 that for the Pope’s Funeral and the Conclave the two
rites Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis and Ordo Rituum Conclavis
are to be carefully followed (cf. n. 27).

The Constitution also establishes certain norms with regard to the duties of the
Master of Papal Liturgical Celebrations during the Vacant See and the services
to be rendered by the Masters of Ceremonies in the places destined for the
Cardinal electors during liturgical celebrations and the election of the new
Pope (cf. n. 46).

Following those directions, the Office for the Liturgical Celebrations of the
Supreme Pontiff, with a personal mandate from the same Supreme Pontiff
undertook, with the collaboration of its Consultors, the revision of the volume
De funere Summi Pontificis used in 1978 for the Funerals of the Supreme
Pontiffs Paul VI and John Paul I, and drafted the new volume Ordo Exsequiarum
Romani Pontificis. At the same time the Office revised the Ordo Sacrorum
Rituum Conclavis from 1978, and drafted the new Ordo Rituum Conclavis.
These two volumes, whose titles were established by Universi Dominici Gregis,
were approved by Pope John Paul II on 5 February 1998 and printed by the Vatican
Press in 2000. In both books the euchological texts, the biblical texts and the
rubrics are given in Latin and Italian. For some Latin texts musical indications
for Gregorian chant have been included.

Each volume includes Prænotanda or General Introduction which explains
the development and significance of the Rites from both a liturgical and a
pastoral aspect. The Office also took care to ensure that the words, prayers and
gestures used in the ritual sequences foster understanding of the nature and
purpose of the rites and active participation.

Particular attention was given when drafting the text of the rubrics in order to
ensure that they express clearly the indications of the Apostolic Constitution,
help to prevent as far as possible eventual doubts and disputes about
competence, and foster a harmonious celebration of the ritual.

From the elaborate and complicated norms and rites marked by exteriority and
repetition which accompanied the period of the Vacant See in the past, we have
moved on to rites characterised by noble simplicity and beauty, better suited to
the mentality and needs of our day in accordance with the principles and the
spirit of the Second Vatican Council.

The spiritual and ecclesial significance and the pastoral finalities of
liturgical celebrations brought to the fore by Vatican II served as the basis
for the work of drafting the two new Ordines. Particularly significant in
this regard are the texts at the beginning of the Introductions:

«In her Funeral Rite the Church makes visible her faith in the Risen Lord’s
victory over sin and over death. This faith is expressed in a special way during
the Funeral of the Roman Pontiff, who, by reason of his ministry in the Church,
confirmed in the faith all her pastors and the people».

«As she celebrates the election of the Successor of Saint Peter, the Church is
particularly united with the Bishops and above all with the Cardinal electors
and implores God to grant a new Supreme Pontiff as a gift of his goodness and
providence».5

The volume «Sede Apostolica Vacante»

The volume Sede Apostolica Vacante, as we said above, deals not only with
the Rite of the Funeral of the Roman Pontiff and the Conclave from the
ritual-celebratory aspect; it also broadens the question to include the Vacant
See as a whole, considering everything from an historical aspect and in the
light of current legislation.

The volume has three parts: The death and funeral of the Roman Pontiff; the
Vacant See; the Conclave and the election of the Roman Pontiff. Each part
considers its respective subject from three aspects: its history, the current
legislation, its ritual aspect. Each part concludes with an illustration of:
«places, furniture, robes and furnishings». Only the second part, since it deals
with the College of Cardinals and the General Congregations, is not considered
from the ritual-celebratory aspect.

The volume is completed with an interesting Appendix consisting of the Apostolic
Constitution Universi Dominici Gregis
in Italian, an analytical Index and a terminological Lexicon for readers with
little experience of ecclesiastical thought and terminology.

Although the volume, in its treatment of the events, has covered their
historical background, it remains bound to the present situation as constituted
by the legislation of Universi Dominici Gregis
and the Rituals prepared for the Funeral of the Pope and the Rites of the
Conclave.

With this publication, then, the Office for the Liturgical Celebrations of the
Supreme Pontiff wishes to foster among the Catholic faithful, priests and
Bishops a better understanding of the significance and the importance of the
events and the rites which take place during the Vacant See. These rites and
events concern in fact «the Roman Pontiff, successor of Saint Peter in the See
of the city of Rome, visible head of the whole Church and Servant of the
Servants of God and are therefore of utmost importance in the life of the People
of God on its pilgrimage on earth».6

Lastly, the volume may be of use for the social communications media and the
service they are called to offer the Church and the world, especially on the
occasion of important events of faith.

A powerful moment for the faith of the Church

The Rites for the Funeral of the Roman Pontiff and for the Conclave were revised
primarily in order to foster the sanctification of the faithful and the building
up of the Church, the Body of Christ. But in actual fact the whole period of the
Vacant See is a powerful time for the life of the Church, called as she is to
renew her hope in eternal life, strengthen her unity, persevere with one accord
in prayer and bear witness to her faith in the Lord’s continual presence.

During this period there are however certain times when the Church is called
more especially to manifest her faith. First, at the death of the Roman Pontiff.
In this situation the Church is called to entrust herself «with total trust to
Christ, the Supreme Shepherd who promised to be with her and assist her always».7
The Church’s faith is expressed in the prayer which is said as a veil of white
silk is placed over the face of the deceased Pontiff:

«Almighty and eternal God,
Lord of life and of death,
we trust and we believe
that the life of the Holy Father N.
is now hidden in you.

May his face,
on which the light of this world no longer shines,
be illuminated for ever by the true lightwhich has you as its eternal source.

May his face,
which sought your paths in order to show them to the Church,
now see your face, O Father.

May his face,
now hidden from our eyes,
contemplate your beauty
and commend the flock to you, its eternal Shepherd,
who live and reign, world without end».8

A second powerful moment of faith is demanded of the Church during the period of
the election of the Successor of Peter. At this time the Church must be deeply
united with the Bishops and above all with the Cardinal electors in imploring
«from God the new Supreme Pontiff as a gift of his goodness and providence.
Indeed, like the first community of Christians described in the Acts of the
Apostles (cf. 1:4), the whole Church must persevere in prayer with one accord in
spiritual union with Mary, mother of Jesus, to obtain from the Lord a worthy
Shepherd».9

The third highly significant moment for the Church is the solemn announcement of
the election of the Roman Pontiff and the Pope’s first blessing urbi et orbi.
The spontaneous cheering of the people in St Peter’s Square in response to the
announcement of the election, Habemus Papam10 and their
acclamation of the new Pontiff as he appears on the central balcony of the
Vatican Basilica, represent in the tradition of papal elections one of the most
powerful and significant expressions of faith. In this way the faithful from the
Diocese of Rome and from throughout the whole world acknowledge and embrace the
new Pontiff, the Successor of Peter in the See of Rome, the visible head of the
whole Church, and the Servant of the Servants of God.

9Ordo Rituum Conclavis Introduction 2. Significant in this regard
the numerous prayers of intercession included in the Ordo before the
Cardinals place their votes: 96-102.

10 "The first of the Cardinal Deacons goes to the outside balcony of the Hall
of Benediction of the Vatican Basilica and announces the election of the Pope to
the people in a loud voice with these words: I announce to you a great joy: the
Pope has been elected! He is Cardinal of Holy Roman Church N.....who has chosen
the name N...": Ordo Rituum Conclavis, n.74.